At the January 23 meeting, we held the election of the 2017-2018 CCPA Officers. Congratulations to Carolyn Russell, Treasurer; Mary Lea Filbert, Secretary; Mae Ferral and Inez Kenison, 2nd Vice Presidents; Consuelo Vargas, 1st Vice President; and I will once again be returning as President. Thank you to all of you for giving us the support to proceed with another busy year as officers for CCPA.

We have lots to do at our meeting on February 27 so we are looking for good attendance. Among others, we will discuss the 2018 CAPA Convention Team Tasks and hope to make a decision on which task or tasks CCPA will be doing to participate in the 2018 CAPA Convention. The convention will be held in Fresno.

We will also discuss the possibilities for our CAPA seminar reimbursement. It is available to us for a seminar of our choice by a teacher of our choice but the seminar must be given prior to June 30, 2017. We will need to decide this so a contract can be signed with the teacher and we apply for the reimbursement of the seminar and possibility of a portion of the teacher’s travel.

Also, it is time to start working on your entry for the California State Fair. Our entries were very low last year. As I recall there were only four entries. Please start working on a piece so you are ready when it is time to submit your application.

The Shepard Garden and Art Center Spring Sale is coming up on March 25 and 26. We will have a sign up sheet at the meeting. The Spring Sale is your opportunity to sell your pieces and these events are usually very well attended by the public. It is always great to have a good selection of pieces for sale to show the public our great artists’ work.

Our program for the February 27 meeting will be Donna Van Wagenen, our librarian, offering numerous books for sale from the Estate of Mary DiMaggio. The estate consisted of many books and studies and the proceeds will benefit CCPA and all were donated by her husband, Horace DiMaggio. We appreciate his very generous contribution.

Our hostesses this month will be Connie Morrison and Sonny Thomas. Please help them if you can.

It is with sadness and a void in my heart that I notify you of the loss of my soulmate for 54 years on February 12, 2017, from complications following hip surgery. It is difficult to imagine my life without Dennis. I appreciate all you have done to help him and me through our many years of struggles. The funeral, followed by a reception, will be at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at St. Joseph Marello Parish located at 7200 Auburn Folsom Road, Granite Bay, 95746.